"We're looking for a mayor that is going to make school reform a part of their legacy," said Ali Kronley, head organizer of the Philadelphia office of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, an advocacy group for low- and moderate-income families.
All five major Democratic candidates agree that they would make education a priority. All say they will seek more money to support the deficit-plagued district and put armed city police in schools that need it, a move the district has sought and Mayor Street has rebuffed. They also pledge more funding for the strike-plagued Community College of Philadelphia.
Education advocates like what they hear, but say much more than lip service is needed.
A mayor should express a vision for the schools, then set out to align city services to schools' needs and develop support for that vision within the community, said Len Reiser, codirector of the Education Law Center, a Philadelphia advocacy group for parents and students.
"A mayor could be a leader in articulating what kind of school district we want to see here in Philadelphia and could encourage the School Reform Commission and other civic leaders and community groups to join in pursuing that vision," he said.
Nationally, some mayors have made headlines for such efforts. New York City's Michael Bloomberg has pumped hundreds of millions of dollars into the schools' operating budget, and billions into building and renovating schools. He's also creating a network of small high schools.
In St. Petersburg, Fla., Rick Baker has won praise for offering bonuses for stellar high-school principals and launching a home-loan forgiveness program to recruit good teachers, as well as mentoring programs and business partnerships.
